Balenciaga says designer Alexander Wang is leaving the fashion house after three years as creative director.
Wang will present his last women’s wear collection for Balenciaga at the ready-to-wear Paris shows this October. The announcement confirmed days of rumors that the company would not renew its contract with the American designer.
Neither Balenciaga nor Wang detailed the precise reasons for the split. The New York-based designer hinted in the Balenciaga statement that he will now focus on taking his own brand “to its next level of growth.”
Balenciaga has yet to name Wang’s successor, saying in the statement an announcement will come “in due course.”
Alexander Wang (born December 26, 1983) is an American fashion designer and was the creative director of Balenciaga.
At age 19, he moved to New York City to attend Parsons. In 2005, after two years at Parsons, he decided to pursue the launch of his own fashion label, which predominantly began with a knitwear collection. In Fall 2007, Wang presented a complete women’s ready-to-wear collection on the New York catwalk for the first time, to critical acclaim. He won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2008, an honor accompanied by a $20,000 award to expand one’s business.
That same year, he launched his first handbag collection. In 2009, women’s T by Alexander Wang was launched, followed by Men’s T by Alexander Wang a year later. In 2009 he was recognized by his peers when he was announced as the winner of the CFDA’s Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. Also in 2009, Wang was the recipient of the Swiss Textiles Award. His lines are now stocked globally in more than 700 stores and other venues; including, luxury department stores such as, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Dover Street Market, Browns and Net-a-Porter.
Wang is known for his urban designs. After designing a Fall 2008 collection using black as the predominant color, he designed his Spring 2009 collection using bright colors such as orange, dusty purple, aqua and hot pink. In the meantime he has reverted to using mainly black fabrics, and is often praised for exhibiting outstanding tailoring skills.
The post Fashion News: Alexander Wang Leaves Balenciaga appeared first on Live Trading News.